You can set the measured coffee grounds aside for now. Don’t forget to calibrate your digital scale before you start measuring!
Your brewer should come with a glass carafe that goes underneath the brewer. If it doesn’t, use a tall glass mug.
The typical ratio of water to coffee grounds is . 5 cups (120 ml) of water for each tablespoon of coffee. You’re using about 3 tablespoons of coffee, so you’ll need 1. 5 cups (350 ml) of water to make 1 serving of coffee. You’re boiling a total of 2 cups (470 ml) of water so you can use the other . 5 cups (120 ml) of water to rinse out the filter. [4] X Research source If you don’t have a kettle, you can always use a regular pot for this. Just be extra careful when you’re pouring the boiling water into the brewer!
Rinsing out the filter first gets rid of the papery residue on its surface, which can affect the taste of the coffee, and warms up the brewer. You can discard the rinsing water immediately.
60 seconds is the perfect amount of time to finish preparing the filter and coffee grounds!
This technique is called a “bloom pour” and it prevents your coffee from tasting too bitter or too weak. [9] X Research source
You can adjust the amount of coffee grounds to suit your personal preference.
For the best flavor, use bottled or filtered water. If you want to use water from your tap, let it run for a few seconds before adding it to the kettle. [13] X Research source
If you want to get super technical, the water should cool to 195 °F (91 °C) before pouring it into the French press. It should reach that temperature in about 1 minute, but you can always use a thermometer if you want to be certain. [15] X Research source
You may need to use a vigorous up-and-down motion to get the grounds to break up fully. [18] X Research source
If the plunger seems resistant, make sure the mesh filter is lowered evenly. Be sure to pour all of the coffee out of the press right away to prevent it from over-steeping and getting bitter.
If you only have coarsely ground coffee on hand, try popping it in a coffee grinder for 15 seconds or so before using it.
Rinsing the filter first ensures a better-tasting cup of coffee. Bottled or filtered water will give you the best tasting coffee, but tap water will work fine if that’s all you have on hand.
The press is made to fit over a mug perfectly.
To flatten the surface of the grounds, shake the filter gently so the grounds settle. You can also just use a spoon the smooth out the surface.
Avoid stirring vigorously—1 brief stir is all you need.
Be sure to let the liquid cool off a little before enjoying your java!
